to pick up the scattered grain. In winter and on migration it frequents the 

 mud-flats on the seacoast, and feeds on small molluscs, tiny Crustacea, and 

 sea-grass. 



The call-note of the Pintail is a low ' karr,' and its alarm-note 'quaak,' not 

 so harsh as that of the Mallard, nor so high-pitched as the Teal's note. At 

 their breeding-grounds Pintails have another curious note, uttered by the drake 

 as he swims round his mate, sounding sometimes like ' argluck-urrrj and some- 

 times only ' gerk-rrrrr,' the last syllable being a low, grating note. 



The Pintail is a fairly early breeder, eggs being sometimes laid early in 

 April, but often not till early in June. Of eleven nests I examined in the 

 beginning of June, one was just hatching, five had their full complement of 

 eggs, and the rest were only half laid. The nest is placed in a dry situation 

 among rushes or tussocks of coarse grass, and is not particularly carefully 

 concealed. It is deep, and well lined with bits of sedge and dead grass, and, 

 when the clutch is complete, with a profusion of down. When disturbed, the 

 Duck usually flies away for some little distance, alights, and comes running 

 back through the grass in a stooping position, reminding one rather of a 

 hen pheasant. 



From six to ten eggs are laid ; but if the first nest be destroyed, the second 

 rarely contains more than five or six eggs. They are sometimes pale greenish 

 buff in colour, and sometimes pale yellowish buff; I have seen both varieties 

 within a few yards of each other. The safest identification is the down, which 

 is brown with distinct white tips, and easily distinguishable from that of the 

 Mallard, Shoveller, and Tufted Duck. The eggs vary in length from 2^24 to 

 2'O inch, and in breadth from i'6i to 1^49 inch. 



Young in down are exactly the same on the upper parts as young Mallards, 

 but in addition to the dark stripe passing through the eye, there is a second 

 dark line passing below the eye from the lores to the nape, and the white on 

 throat and belly is suffused with grey instead of with buff. 



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